How to Start an LLC in Hawaii
Learn how to start an LLC in Hawaii in 6 steps. File Form LLC-1 with the DCCA for $51, get your EIN, and stay compliant with Hawaii's annual report rules.
Bizee Editorial Staff
Editorial Team
Hawaii LLC at a glance
Filing fee: $51 (Articles of Organization: $50 + $1 State Archives fee); $25 additional for expedited review
Processing time: Approximately 3–5 business days (standard); expedited available for an additional $25
State agency: Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Business Registration Division (BREG)
Annual report due: Due by the last day of the calendar quarter in which the LLC was formed, each year after the year of formation (e.g., formed Jan–Mar: due by March 31; formed Apr–Jun: due by June 30; formed Jul–Sep: due by September 30; formed Oct–Dec: due by December 31)
State tax rate: Hawaii has a state income tax. LLCs taxed as pass-through entities are subject to Hawaii's individual income tax rates. A tax professional can help you figure out your specific obligations.
How to form a Hawaii LLC
To form an LLC in Hawaii, you file Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) with the Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Business Registration Division (BREG). The state filing fee is $51. Standard processing takes approximately 3–5 business days. You'll also need a registered agent with a Hawaii street address and an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS.
Step 1: Choose a business name
Your LLC name must be unique in Hawaii and include the words "limited liability company" or the abbreviation "LLC" or "L.L.C." Names that are identical or too similar to an existing registered business will be rejected by the DCCA.
Search the DCCA's business name database through Hawaii Business Express before you file. If your preferred name is available but you're not ready to file yet, you can reserve it with the Business Registration Division to hold it while you prepare your documents.
Step 2: Assign a registered agent
Every Hawaii LLC must continuously maintain a registered agent — a person or business entity that receives legal documents and official government notices on behalf of your LLC. The registered agent must have a physical street address in Hawaii. A P.O. box alone doesn't satisfy this requirement.
You can serve as your own registered agent if you're a Hawaii resident and available at your listed address during normal business hours. Many business owners use a professional registered agent service instead — it keeps a personal address off public records and ensures nothing gets missed.
Step 3: File Form LLC-1 with the DCCA
Form LLC-1 (Articles of Organization for a Limited Liability Company) is the official Hawaii state form you file to legally form your LLC. The total filing fee is $51 — a $50 formation fee plus a mandatory $1 State Archives fee. Expedited review costs an additional $25.
Your Articles of Organization must include your LLC's name, the address of the principal office, and whether the entity will be an LLC or a PLLC (Professional Limited Liability Company). You can file online through Hawaii Business Express, or submit by mail, fax, email, or in person to the DCCA Business Registration Division. Mail filings go to: State of Hawaii – DCCA, Business Registration Division, P.O. Box 40, Honolulu, HI 96810.
Step 4: Get an EIN from the IRS
An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a federal tax ID issued by the IRS to identify your business. You'll need one to open a business bank account, hire employees, and file federal taxes. The IRS issues EINs at no cost.
Apply for your EIN after your Hawaii LLC is approved by the DCCA so the business name on your IRS application matches your state records. The fastest way is through the IRS online EIN application — you'll get your number immediately. You'll need a valid Social Security number or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) to apply online.
Step 5: Create an operating agreement
Hawaii doesn't legally require an LLC to have an operating agreement, but having one is worth the effort. An operating agreement sets out how your LLC is owned, how decisions get made, how profits are divided, and how members can exit. Without one, Hawaii's default LLC statutes govern those questions — and the defaults may not match what you actually want.
For single-member LLCs, an operating agreement also helps reinforce that your business is a separate legal entity — which matters if your liability protection is ever questioned.
Step 6: Meet Hawaii's ongoing compliance requirements
After your LLC is formed, staying in good standing in Hawaii means filing an annual report with the DCCA each year. The due date depends on when your LLC was formed — it's the last day of the calendar quarter in which you organized. For example, if you formed your LLC in February, your annual report is due by March 31 each year.
No annual report is due in the same calendar year your LLC is organized — the first report is due the following year. You can file online through Hawaii Business Express or by mail using Form C5 (Domestic Limited Liability Company Annual Report). Hawaii Business Express shows upcoming and overdue report deadlines on your dashboard, so it's worth bookmarking.
FAQ
$51. The Hawaii DCCA charges a $50 filing fee for Articles of Organization plus a mandatory $1 State Archives fee. If you want expedited review, add another $25. There's no state fee to get your EIN — the IRS issues those at no cost.
Generally, 3–5 business days under standard processing. If you need it faster, the DCCA offers expedited review for an additional $25. Filing online through Hawaii Business Express is the quickest way to submit — you get an electronic receipt immediately after filing.
Form LLC-1 — the Articles of Organization for a Limited Liability Company. It's issued by the Hawaii DCCA Business Registration Division. You can file it online through Hawaii Business Express or submit it by mail, fax, email, or in person. The form asks for your LLC's name, principal office address, and whether the entity is an LLC or PLLC.
Yes. Hawaii law requires every LLC to maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in Hawaii — a P.O. box doesn't count. The registered agent receives legal documents and official government notices on behalf of your LLC. You can serve as your own registered agent if you're a Hawaii resident available at that address during business hours, or you can use a professional registered agent service.
No — Hawaii charges a $51 state filing fee to form an LLC, and that fee goes directly to the DCCA. There's no way to waive it. What you can do is handle the formation filing yourself at no additional cost, or use a formation platform that files on your behalf for $0 plus the required $51 state fee.
It depends on when your LLC was formed. Hawaii ties the annual report deadline to the calendar quarter of formation: formed January–March means the report is due by March 31; April–June means due by June 30; July–September means due by September 30; October–December means due by December 31. No report is due in the year you form your LLC — the first one is due the following year.
To dissolve a Hawaii LLC, you file Articles of Dissolution with the DCCA Business Registration Division. Before filing, make sure your LLC's annual reports are current and any outstanding fees are paid. You can file dissolution documents online through Hawaii Business Express or by mail. A tax professional can help you figure out any final state tax obligations before you close the business.
To form an LLC in Hawaii you need: a unique business name that includes "LLC" or "limited liability company," a registered agent with a Hawaii street address, completed Articles of Organization (Form LLC-1) filed with the DCCA, and the $51 state filing fee. After formation, you'll also need an EIN from the IRS and must file an annual report with the DCCA each year to stay in good standing.
